Nissan unveils new London cab

The taxi will cut carbon dioxide emissions in half.

It's London calling for Nissan, which has made the most of the Olympic spotlight on the city by unveiling its new five-seater NV200 London Taxi.

The vehicle, based on the company’s multi-purpose NV200 compact van, is 50 per cent more fuel-efficient than alternative cabs and cuts carbon dioxide emissions in half – good news for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who has promised to tackle London's air-quality problem. Johnson said:

Having taken the significant step of introducing the first age limit for taxis in London, I am absolutely delighted that manufacturers are stepping up to the plate and are responding to the challenge I set in my air-quality strategy to reduce taxi emissions and improve efficiency. I look forward to when a fully competitive model comes to market.

The new taxi features a 2.7-litre TD27 diesel engine and complies with Transport for London regulations. The company is also planning to trial an all-electric e-NV200 prototype London Taxi in 2013.

Nissan has already unveiled versions of the NV200 taxi in Tokyo and New York City.

Andy Palmer, executive vice-president of Nissan, said:

Nissan is proud to be delivering a 21st-century vision for one of London’s most iconic vehicles. The "black cab" is as much a part of the London landscape as Big Ben and, whilst there will always be a place for that familiar silhouette, the Nissan NV200 London Taxi focuses as much attention on its interior as the exterior – a better experience for drivers and passengers.

Palmer concluded:

The Nissan NV200 is a global taxi, launching in the biggest and brightest cities in the world. Safe, comfortable, efficient and convenient – it’s a great step forward for providing a transport solution that is good for both its users and other city inhabitants.